Downloading music

Clive · Feb 10, 2015, 18:29:36

My iPod is not working as well as it should and I can only play my music in random fashion. Actually I quite like it that way but none of the other functions work so perhaps I should look to the future and consider buying a new one. My current model is a Classic and I use it with a Sony docking system. But my *real* problem is that I don't have a copy of my iTunes downloading thingy owing to a HDD tragedy and I hadn't taken a backup. OK OK OK I *do* take backups but only a few times a year and my iTunes
slipped through the net.

I have no idea what my ID or password was so I consider it lost

Soooo - before treating myself to a gleaming new iPod, I would like to start downloading a new playlist and wonder if anyone has suggestions about an alternative download manager? For example I've randomly discovered http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/ Does anyone use this?

Glenn · Feb 10, 2015, 18:37:39

I use http://www.copytrans.net/copytransmanager.php works very well and free.

Steve · Feb 10, 2015, 18:40:45

You should be able to backup your current iPod music to your computer. The iPod classic is no more , if you want capacity it's either the iPod Touch or the iPhone.

Clive · Feb 10, 2015, 19:15:55

I've successfully downloaded copytransmanager but it looks nothing like iTunes which was a very simple interface. My head hurts now! I've heard that I can save my iPod back to the computer but apparently it's very complicated and not for the faint-hearted. I wouldn't feel confident to be honest!

Simon · Feb 10, 2015, 20:36:25

This method of transferring music from an iPod to your computer seems fairly straightforward, Clive. Just ensure that the iPod doesn't automatically sync with iTunes, if you have it installed, when you connect it to the PC. I guess, for safety, you could uninstall iTunes until the files are in a folder on your PC, then disconnect the iPod before reinstalling iTunes.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/audio/3295857/how-transfer-music-from-your-ipod-your-pc/

Simon · Feb 10, 2015, 20:39:00

Quote from: Steve on Feb 10, 2015, 18:40:45The iPod classic is no more , if you want capacity it's either the iPod Touch or the iPhone.

The iPod Classic may have been discontinued, but they are still perfectly usable, and you won't get better capacity than 160Gb on any other iDevice, will you?

Clive · Feb 10, 2015, 21:41:00

Oh that's by far the most straightforward method I've ever seen of transferring music back from the iPod. That seems do-able!

I've had to remove the copytrans because it didn't appeal to me at all. But I've downloaded iTunes again and all it wanted was my e-mail address. No password? That doesn't seem very secure to me.

I've read that the newer iPods require a different connector for docking systems?

Steve · Feb 10, 2015, 21:53:46

Quote from: Simon on Feb 10, 2015, 20:39:00
The iPod Classic may have been discontinued, but they are still perfectly usable, and you won't get better capacity than 160Gb on any other iDevice, will you?

Of course they're still usable,I have a 2nd generation that works perfectly well.

Simon · Feb 10, 2015, 22:09:59

Quote from: Clive on Feb 10, 2015, 21:41:00
Oh that's by far the most straightforward method I've ever seen of transferring music back from the iPod. That seems do-able! I've had to remove the copytrans because it didn't appeal to me at all. But I've downloaded iTunes again and all it wanted was my e-mail address. No password? That doesn't seem very secure to me. I've read that the newer iPods require a different connector for docking systems?

iTunes itself doesn't require a password. That is only required for you to access the iTunes Store.

The main thing here is NOT to allow your iPod to sync with an 'empty' iTunes, as it will remove all the content from your iPod. My suggestion would be to uninstall iTunes again, just for now, then complete the steps in the link above, making sure that your iPod content is saved in a separate folder to anything else.

Once you have the iPod content transferred to your computer, disconnect the iPod, before launching iTunes. Then, in iTunes, go to File > Add Folder to Library and navigate to the folder which contains the iPod content, select the entire folder, then iTunes should hopefully import all of the content, and it should all be sorted as it was before.

I did say hopefully!

Newer iPods do have a different connector, but you can buy adapters, however, once you have all of the content imported into iTunes, it should then be safe to sync the iPod, after which, you may find it's working properly again, so there won't be any need to replace it.

Clive · Feb 10, 2015, 22:37:16

Thanks Simon, that's why I've been so paranoid about connecting the iPod!

My iPod wasn't even taken out of the packaging for the first five years so it's relatively 'new'.

pctech · Feb 10, 2015, 22:49:13

Couldn't do without my tunes at lunchtime at work. apart from computing my music is the only thing I'm really passionate about.

iTunes should ask whether you want to erase and sync when you connect an iPod that is unknown to it.

As has been said the password is only required for the store and the sign in name is your e-mail address.

If you bought any tracks from the store pre 2009 they may have DRM that requires that you sign in with the account used to purchase to authorise them but aside from that there shouldn't be an issue.

Clive · Feb 11, 2015, 16:25:19

Thanks Mitch. I haven't bought any tracks at all from iTunes, I just like the interface because it's so simple to use and even *I* can understand it although Simon gave me a lot of coaching to set it up.